Joey Lawrence Joins Broadway's Chicago May 4

By Andrew Gans
04 May 2007

Joey Lawrence joins the cast of Chicago as Billy Flynn.
Joey Lawrence joins the cast of Chicago as Billy Flynn.

Former child actor Joey Lawrence, who plays Clay Dobson on "CSI: NY," joins the Broadway company of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago May 4.

Lawrence, who was also part of the third season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," is the latest actor to play slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the long-running revival. He is scheduled to stay with the musical through June 17.

Lawrence joins a company that features Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Rob Bartlett as Amos Hart, Roz Ryan as Matron Mama Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

As previously announced, husband-and-wife actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna will join the Chicago company June 19 as respectively, Billy Flynn and Roxie Hart. They are currently scheduled to play those roles through July 29.

Joey Lawrence has been seen on television in "Gimme a Break," "Blossom," "Brotherly Love" and "American Dreams." His film credits include "Summer Rental," "Chains of Gold," "Radioland Murderers" and "Urban Legends." His solo recording is titled "Joey Lawrence." Chicago marks the singing actor's Broadway debut.

Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.

Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 215 West 49th Street.